I did not totally understand what the rep told us in the briefing, but if its 3% backdated and an additional 3% in jan 2006 then its definately a step up from the previous offer. The trip pay offer is better too, although I can understand why there is disappointment at FSM/CSS getting a higher trip pay. I can say from experience at my previous airline, the differential between supervisor and crew pay was minimal - and it meant that for the extra unpaid hours I was doing (paperwork, performance monitoring etc was all done on the ground) I was essentially getting paid less per hour than crew. Perhaps it would be better to build this into the FSM/CSS salary as opposed to differing trip pay amounts?
Don't forget though, they have bundled the monthly standby AND the pay offer into one ballot this time, so think *very* carefully about ALL the implications of your vote...